I once read that, "Church is not a museum for good people, but instead a hospital for the broken." As I sit at my desk praying to find the perfect words to describe what makes Young Life such an incredible organization, I believe this quote is able to portray what Young Life is all about: coming as you are, whether that be as a happy, sad, broken, or lost sinner, to learn about your astonishing heavenly father.
I was a sophomore in high school when I first began going to Young Life club on Monday nights. I remember being impressed with how unique it was that the club gathered in a gymnasium. When most people think about praising God or learning about the scripture, they picture themselves in a church, not a room where it's acceptable, and encouraged, to play basketball after the talk of the night. However, this club that hangs out in a gym, goes to Whataburger after every club, puts on hilarious skits that make everyone laugh until their abs hurt, and play games that sometimes consisted of putting panty hose over someones face and expecting them to eat a banana through the cloth, has drastically changed my life and perspective on God. As a way to give back to an organization that has given so much to me, I thought I'd share some of the things it has shown me.
1. God wants to walk through life with us, we just have to let him.
As humans, we long for control over our lives. We want to do what we want, when we want, and how we want it, so that we have control over the outcome. However, we weren't created to handle life alone, and we often end up dealing with the consequences of sin in the process of trying to control our lives. Fortunately, Young Life taught me that God wants to get his hands dirty and help us through the messes life presents us with. He wants to be there for us during the ups and downs we encounter in our life's path, we just have to allow Him to.
2. God's love for us is immeasurable and incredible.
In a society where everyone is always doing everything possible to fit in and feel loved by others, learning that God's love for us is never changing is an immense relief. He loves us as we are, as we were created in His perfect image. God and His kingdom are perfect in every possible way, and because of this, sin can't be in the presence of God. However, because God loves us so much He allowed His son, Jesus, to be tortured and nailed to a cross, with the weight of all our sins on His shoulders, so that we could all be by God's side one day. That is the ultimate sacrifice, and because of it we all have a the opportunity to accept Jesus into our hearts and spend eternity with God. That kind of love is incredible.
3. Don't be anxious, God is near.
As someone who has been diagnosed with anxiety, I understand first-hand how life altering anxiety can be when you allow it to control your life. Young Life taught me that I should never worry about anything, and instead turn to God and pray. Granted, this is easier said than done, but it really does help to know God is near when the stress that accompanies life becomes overwhelming.
4. It's okay to be yourself.
When I first began Young Life I was really worried that I wouldn't "fit in" with the other members. However, I quickly learned how wrong I was. The organization wants you to come as you are, flaws and all, to experience how they will accept you for you just like God does. Everyone is at a different place in their walk with Christ, and Young Life wants to be by your side as you continue. They do not want to judge you or make you feel out of place. Rather if you're struggling through a difficult patch or life is going smoothly for you at the moment, they just want to show you God's love.
5. God doesn't want us to be typical.
Surprisingly, God doesn't care if we put our hands in the air at the right time while singing praise or not. God wants us to be spontaneous and adventurous in spreading His word. He wants us to be active in following Him, not typical. I used to feel like I could only follow God if I acted a certain way, but I learned that He just wants me to build a relationship with Him and share the gospel. I don't have to have my hands up at a certain time, or pray a specific amount of times a day, I just have to pursue Him.
6. God wants to pursue us.
The best part of Young Life, by far, is you get a leader (mentor) who sticks by your side throughout high school. This is a blessing because the leaders work to pursue their kids like God pursues us. Sometimes it's easy to think God had has plenty on His plate and probably has better things to do than focus on a single person's life, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Like our leaders, He wants to be next to us when we experience the greatest joys of life, and also wants to hold us when life seems to come crumbing down. We are His children, and He wants to pursue a relationship with us.
If I wrote everything I have learned from Young Life, I could probably write a novel. However, I'm forever thankful I get to take a break from life and hangout with friends, learn about God and His word, and play games every Monday night.
